Rowing coach, Myma
Okuda-Rayfuse chosen as the Hydro One Safe Play Award winner
for her commitment to safety, inclusivity and fun
TORONTO, Sept. 13,
2023 /CNW/ - To celebrate National Coaches Week
(September 16-24) the Coaches
Association of Ontario (CAO) and
Hydro One are excited to present 15 coaches with the province's
most prestigious coaching honour, an Ontario Coaching Excellence
Award. From rowing to rugby, the 2023 Coaching Excellence Award
helps fund and recognize the power of sport across local
communities in Ontario.
Myma Okuda-Rayfuse, a champion
rowing coach in Hamilton was also
chosen as the recipient of the Hydro One Safe Play Award for her
commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and fun environment for
all athletes and participants.
"We are thrilled to recognize each of these incredible coaches
for their unwavering dedication and support of athlete development
on and off the playing field. Our communities are strengthened by
the relationships created and fostered through sport and coaches
are leaders in creating those safe, fun, and positive spaces for
youth to grow," said CAO's Executive Director, Jeremy Cross. "Congratulations and #ThanksCoach
to all the recipients and for the impact you are having in your
communities."
"I'm humbled to be chosen as a recipient of this prestigious
award, especially as rowing coach, a sport that doesn't get as much
attention in the mainstream," said Myma
Okuda-Rayfuse. "The athletes I have been privileged to coach
over the years are some of the most dedicated and hard-working
young women and men I know, the recognition and support from these
funds will make a big difference to grow the rowing community in
Hamilton."
"Hydro One believes that coaches are important role models and
leaders to their athletes, teams and communities," said Omar
Javed, Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Investor
Relations, Hydro One. "Through our partnership with the Coaches
Association of Ontario, we're
proud to support local coaches and their athletes as a new season
kicks off. Congratulations to Myma for winning the Hydro One Safe
Play award and all the recipients. Thank you for your dedication to
making sports safe and accessible for all."
The Coaching Excellence Award recipients were selected from
numerous nominations received by the CAO across over 35 sports and
representing more than 60 communities. Presented annually, the
awards represent all levels of sport from community to competitive,
recognizing coaches for their unique commitments to inspire,
innovate and share knowledge of sport with others. Each recipient
will receive funding for new equipment to keep their athletes and
teams safe and their respective sports affordable and accessible.
The awards will be presented at a special celebration at the
Toronto Blue Jays vs Boston Red Sox game on September 16 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The 2023 Ontario Coaching Excellence Award Winners:
- Hans Schroeder, Jozo Weider Race
Club, Blue Mountain
- Rebecca Turrill, Tillsonburg
Ringette Association, Tillsonburg
- John Ahlstedt, Robert Land
Academy, Wellandport
- Robert Studer, Archery 2 You
Archery Centre, Oshawa
- Amy Wilson, University of Waterloo & Indigenous Team
Ontario, Milton
- Ibrahim Kamal, MJKO Boxing,
Toronto
- Mark Peltier, Badminton Warriors
of Mnidoo Mnising, Manitoulin Island
- Jennifer Cuddie, London Curling
Club, London
- Oswald Jones, Rising Star
Cricket, Brampton
- Mary Munroe, South East Trillium
Hunter Jumper Association, Gananoque
School Sport Winners:
- Chris Finner, St. Michael
Catholic High School, Kemptville
- Stacy Ganogiannis-Reid, East
York Collegiate Institute, Toronto
Susan Kitchen Trailblazer Award:
- Spencer Robinson, Toronto Inner
City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Toronto
Hydro One Safe Play Award:
- Myma Okuda-Rayfuse, Leander Boat
Club & McMaster University,
Hamilton
Andy Higgins Lifetime Achievement Award:
- Grandmaster Young Su Choung,
Young Choung Taekwondo Academy, Vaughan & Toronto
"The CAO would also like to thank the Ontario Government and the
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport for their continued
investment in National Coaches Week, which allows us to recognize
and support Ontario's most
valuable volunteers: our coaches," said Cross.
This year marks the ninth annual National Coaches Week, when
Canadians say #ThanksCoach for the role coaches play in building
safe communities and the positive impact they have on the lives of
all participants. Ontario is home
to more than 150,000 active coaches, with as many as 60 per cent
volunteering their services. For more information about National
Coaches Week across Ontario, visit
www.coachesontario.ca/events/coachesweek.
Through the Safe Sport 101 partnership between the CAO and Hydro
One, 32 coaches from 20 communities across the province were also
selected to receive the Community Coaching Grant to help keep the
costs of sport affordable, while keeping safety top of mind. The
Safe Sport 101 partnership between the CAO and Hydro One gives
coaches the tools they need to make sports safe, fun, and inclusive
for all. For more information about Safe Sport 101 and the full
list of the Community Coaching Grant recipients, visit
safesport101.coachesontario.ca.
About the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO)
The Coaches Association
of Ontario is an independent,
non-profit organization that supports coaches from community to
high performance across all sports in Ontario. For more information, please
visit www.coachesontario.ca, follow us on Facebook
or Twitter.
Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)
Hydro One Limited, through
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and
distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued
customers, approximately $30.3
billion in assets as at December 31,
2020, and annual revenues in 2020 of approximately
$7.3 billion.
Our team of approximately 8,700 skilled and dedicated employees
proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system
which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities.
In 2020, Hydro One invested approximately $1.9 billion in its transmission and distribution
networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately
$1.7 billion of goods and services.
We are committed to the communities where we live and work through
community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We
are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian
Electricity Association.
Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and
certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the
NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com;
www.sedarplus.com or www.sec.gov.
SOURCE Coaches Association of Ontario